A mum was before being booted in the face by a rival parent.

Jessica Kitching, 25, attacked the mother of her daughter's friend in September 2023 over a reported dispute between the two children. The pair were said to be pals, but they had a falling out during the holidays.

Kitching followed her out of the playground of Willow Bank School and grabbed her by the hair, dragging her to the ground and kneeling on her chest. She then repeatedly kicked her in the face, heard.

The victim begged her, asking her to stop the vicious assault because they were outside the school and in front of children. The mother was shouting "I know where you live. I'll f******g kill you" as she was pulled away by another friend.

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The victim went to Lancaster Royal Infirmary with grazes and bruises to her face. Doctors said they suspected a hairline fracture to her nose, however the woman did not attend a follow up appointment 10 days later as she said she felt a lot better, reports

In a victim statement, she said she was embarrassed and humiliated to have been attacked on the school run in front of other parents and children. She said she considered changing her daughter's school but did not think it was appropriate. She was also worried Kitching would turn up at her house, she said.

Since the attack, the children have played out together and there have been no further incidents, a judge was told.

The court heard the attack was out of character for Kitching, who has no previous convictions. She could not explain why she had lost her temper but told a probation officer she was ashamed of what she had done and wanted to apologise to her victim. She pleaded guilty to ABH.

Sentencing, Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi said: "This happened near a school and in the presence of children, You were unable to control your behaviour in front of the children. She must have been terrified by being pulled to the floor and kicked by you. There was the use of a shod foot as a weapon.

"This offence is so serious and your behaviour that day was so unacceptable that only a custodial sentence can be justified. I have heard you are effectively a single parent to your nine-year-old daughter. Your behaviour that day was appalling."

However the judge said there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Kitching's child would suffer if her mother was sent to prison. She handed down a sentence of 30 weeks suspended for 12 months with 15 days rehabilitation activities and 60 hours of unpaid work.